Straining-hook for musical instruments.



No. 816,754. PATENTED APR. 3, 1906.

A. G. SOISTMANN. STRAINING HOOK FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1905.

terminating ADOLPH G. SOISTMANN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STRAINING-HOOK FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 3, 1906.

Application filed \TUJIB 22, 1906. Serial No. 286,377-

.To all whom, it may concern:

specificatiom My invention relates tostraining-hOOks 'for musical instruments having stretchable heads'-'such as drums, banjos, &c.my object being to provide improved means for securing the straining rod or cord to the hoop surrounding the stretchable head.- 1' 5 Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a .view in perspective of a drum employin my improved straining-hooks. Fig. 2 is a ont elevation of one of said hooks. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of same, showing the straining rod or bolt in position. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of said hook.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My improved hook is especially adapted to be used in lieu of a hook, such as is shown and indicated by 3 in patent to me No. 641,901, dated January 23, 1900.; The straininghook shown in my said patent as now in common use is made of cast metal and is of such dimensions that the total wei ht of twentyfour such hooks used on a singIe drum is a serious element in the drums weight. My improved hook is not cast, but is wrought from a single piece of sheet metal which is preferably case-hardened steel.

Viewing the. device in the operative position (shownbest in Fig. 3) it 1s provided at its upper extremity with the curved portion or hook proper, 1.

Next to the curved portion is the vertical or downwardly-extending portion 2. Next is the right-angular or horizofitally-extending portion 3, terminating in a sharp return-curve 4- and thence continuing in an enlarged reverse curve 5 back to and at 6 in the plane of the vertical portion 2. The horizontal portion 3 is provided with the aperture 7., and the curved portion-5 is provided with the aperture 8. A oertures 7,.and 8 are in vertical alinement tamoeive the straining belt or screw 9.

A special advantage of my improved device-is that the spring of the angle formed by portions 3. 4, 5, and 6 serves to maintain a peculiarly efficient resilient tension between the straining-bolts 9 and the hoop 10. Each hook acts independently with respect to this function, so that thecorrelated effect of all the hooks is to maintainan even and balanced tension on the hoo 10,- and consequently upon the stretchable head 11.

The lightness as well as-the elasticity ofthe wrought hook of sheet metal as compared with the ordinary cast-iron hook reduces to a minimum the deadening effect upon the tone of the instrument due to heavy hooks or an excess of heavy metal about its vibrating portions. This is also a factor in the life or durability of the drum. The reduction of Wei ht of these hooks, as above stated, especialIy in large drums using as many as twentyfour of said hooks, is an important element in the total weight of the drum.

What I claim is I 1. In combination with a musical instrument having a stretchable head, straining means therefor comprising resilient straining-hooks each provided with an apertured bend midway its length and a portion below the bend to lie against the body of the instrument, and a bolt passing through said aperture as means for connecting the same with the associated straining mechanism.

2. In combination with a musical instrument having a stretchable head,- a resilient straining-hook having a vertical' portion and a bent-out portion midway its length at substantially a right angle with the vertical portion, an aperture in said bent-out portion and a straining-bolt operating through'said aperture, the said parts being so iormed and constructed as to exert a resilient tension upon the said stretchable head.

3. A strainin -hook for musical instruments formed oi sheet metal having a hook portion, a vertical portion adjoining said ook portion a horizontal portion adjoining said vertical portion and at right angles thereto, with a sharp return-curve and a larger reverse curve and terminating below in the plane of the said first-mentioned vertical portion. 4. The combination of a straining-bolt and a resilient straining-hook connected there-'- with for. musical instruments, the said hook having its general longitudinal extension in a vertical plane provided with a hook proper at one end and an intermediate aportured f with a, transversely-piojecting apeitufed 100p portion projecting out of the plane of its 100p for receiving said bolt and means 00:1- 10 vertical extension. nected therewith for securing the associated 5. The combination of a straining-001i; straining mechanism. and a straining-hook Wrought of sheet metal ADOLPH G. SOISTMANN. having its genera longitudinal extension in a i Witnesses: vertical plane provided. at its uppez end with MAE HOFMANNI, the hook proper and midway its e: nsion EUGENE ZIEGLER. 

